Sport fishing column for March 25 to April 1, 2013

A long held tradition in sport fishing is the adventure of traveling to some far off fisherman's Eden or at least telling others about it. Many anglers can recall vividly, in their days before a job and car, when they listed intently to tales or read stories of almost unbelievable fishing at some distant and mystical location.

Some would think that these tales of adventure, have been a right of passage since the beginning of time and to some extent they have. Embellished adventures and tales have at times been published for politically ambitions. One such Politician, who believed that the spirit of adventure was needed in the hearts of individuals to maintain a healthy spirit in a nation, was George Perkins Marsh. The following words are from a report he delivered to the Vermont legislature in 1857.

"The people? are suffering, both physically and morally, from a too close and absorbing attention to pecuniary interests, and occupations of mere routine. We have notoriously less physical hardihood and endurance than the generation which proceeded, our habits are those of less bodily activity? and we have become not merely a more thoughtful and earnest, but, it is to be feared, a duller, as well as a more effeminate, and less bold and spirited nation."

In conclusion, the pursuit of finding, sharing, and maintaining a sense of wonder and adventure in angling is not only a tradition, it is part of our North American heritage. And I trust that as we age, we who value this gift, will always strive to keep it so.


The Report

Fishing on our lower mainland lakes has greatly improved with the return of the sun and warmer temperatures. Try working warming waters in the north east section of you favorite lake for better success. For wet (sinking) fly fishing try: Bloodworm, Chironomid, Nations Black, Zulu, Wooly Bugger, Wooly Worm, Big Black, Doc Spratley, Halfback, Sixpack, or Baggy Shrimp. For dry (floating) fly action try: Lady McConnel, Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Double Hackled Peacock, Royal Coachman, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, or Elk Hair Caddis.

Our lower Mainland bass and panfish are waking up too. For Bass try: Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Gomphus Bug, Crayfish, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Lefties Deceiver, Dolly Whacker, or Bucktail. For Panfish try smaller (size 12 to 16) versions of the above.

The Fraser River sloughs and backwaters are good for cutthroat and dolly varden. For cutthroat Try: Alevin, Eggo, Rolled Muddler, Tied Down Minnow, Professor, Anderson Stone, Black Stone, Zulu, American Coachman, Flesh Fly, or Chez Nymph. For dolly varden try large (size #4 to 2) Eggo, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Tied Down Minnow, Roller Muddler, Dolly Whacker, Big Black, Kaufmann Stone, or Flesh Fly.

The Harrison River is good for cutthroat and rainbow. For rainbow try: Kaufmann Stone, Big Black, Wooly Bugger, Black Gnat, Souboo, Zulu, or Renegade.

The Chehalis River is fair. For steelhead try: Steelhead Nightmare, Kaufmann Stone, Polar Shrimp, GP, Popsicle, Squamish Poacher, Big Black, Flat Black, or Steelhead Spratley.

The Vedder River is good for steelhead, rainbow, dolly varden, and cutthroat.